Drunk Crew Member Attempts to Assault Colleague on Virgin Voyages Ship

A troubling incident aboard the Virgin Valiant Lady has left passengers and crew shaken. According to Palermo Today, a 32-year-old Peruvian crew member was removed from the ship after allegedly trying to rape a female colleague while intoxicated.

The attack took place on May 20, while the cruise liner was docked in Palermo, Italy. The 26-year-old victim, also from Peru, told authorities the man was her boyfriend of three years. They had been sharing a cabin for several months, and she said he had never been aggressive toward her before.

But during a port call, the man drank heavily. As the ship was mooring, he grabbed her by the wrists and attempted to force her into sex. She fought him off, then ran to other crew members in tears, showing them the bruises on her arms. Onboard medics examined her, and the captain ordered the man taken off the vessel. Italian police arrested him, and he was later deported to Peru.

This incident follows a separate tragedy on a different cruise ship, where a 16-year-old boy allegedly raped and killed his 18-year-old half-sister in her cabin. The teen was reportedly obsessed with her. Both cases highlight the challenges cruise lines face in maintaining safety among crew and passengers.